Word
Definition
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology (merriam-webster.com dictionary.com)
Memory aid
Sentence
Pictures
Your name
Gratis (adj.)(adv.)
Definition: free; without charge
Synonyms: on the house; freely
Antonyms: for a price
Etymology: < Lgrātīs freely,contr. ofgrātiīs with favors,graces (abl. pl. of grātia grace) Memory aid: A free box of puppies on the grass Sentence: It is ironic that once a person makes loads of money or becomes a celebrity, they receive many things gratis.
Thomas Moran
Plethora
Definition: (n) overfullness; superabundance; superfluity
Synonyms: surplus, surfeit, glut, excess
Antonyms: shortage, paucity, dearth, scarcity
Etylmology: 1540s, a medical word for "excess of body fluid," from L.L.plethora, from Gk. plethore "fullness," from plethein "be full" (see **//poly-//**). Figurative meaning "too much, overfullness in any respect" is first recorded 1700. Related:Plethoric
Memory Aid: a large population of a species
Sentence: The little boy hoped to get a plethora of gifts for christmas.
Pictures:
Megan Kane
Icon Definition: A representation or image of a sacred , often considered sacred itself; an image or picture; a symbol; a graphic symbol on a computer monitor display; an object of blind devotion Synonyms: emblem, idol Antonyms: none Etymology: 1565–75;< L < Gk eikṓnlikeness, image, figure Memory Aid: icon’s can be found on your computer desktop Sentence: Every time I get on instant messenger, I feel the urge to change my icon. Pictures:
-Nikita Lewis
Word: Forte
Definition: a person's strong point; what a person does best
Synonyms: gift, aptitude, specialty
Antonyms: weakness, shortcoming, foible
Etymology: French fort, from fort, adjective, strong
Memory Aid: A fort is strong, forte is a person's strong point
Sentence: Pablo Picasso is well known for painting being his forte.
Pictures:
Emma Kurfis
ord: therapeutic
Definition: having the power to heal or cure; beneficial
Synonyms: curative, salutary, salubrious
Antonyms: harmful, injurious, deleterious
Etymology (merriam-webster.com dictionary.com):1535–45; < NLtherapeuticus < Gk therapeutikós, equiv. to therapeú ( ein ) to attend, treat medically (akin to therápōn attendant) + -tikos -tic Memory aid: “therapy” is almost in the word.
Sentence: After the woman left therapeutic spa, she felt very relaxed.
Pictures:
Melissa Belanger
Word: Macrocosm
Definition: The universe considered as a whole; the entire complex structure of something
Synonyms: cosmos, entirety
Antonyms: model, miniature, microcosm
Etymology: French macrocosme, from Medieval Latin macrocosmos, from Latin macr- + Greek kosmos order, universe
Memory aid: Macrocosm has cosmos at the end.
Sentence: Earth is one small part of an enormous macrocosm.
Pictures:
Raymond To
Condescend
Definition: to come down or stoop voluntarily to a lower level; to deal with people in a patronizing manner
Synonyms: deign
Antonyms: none
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French condescendre, from Late Latin condescendere, from Latin com- + descendere to descend First Known Use: 14th century
Memory aid: descend is in the the word and descend means to go down
Sentence: During class, Jon condenscended to the other students in order to help them answer a math problem.
Pictures
David MorsePaeanDefinition: any song of joy or praiseSynonym: acclamation, anthem, hymn, laudAntonym: condemnation, criticismEtymology: 1535–45: religious or festive hymn, special use of Paeanappellation of Apollo, greek originsMemory aid: sounds like pagan someone who worships many godsSentance: The band was playing a song of a paean nature when the team won the game.Kevin Myers Word- Enclave
Definition- An enclosed district, region, or area inhabited by a particular region, or area inhabited by a particular group of people or having a special character
Synonyms- Island, subgroup
Antonyms- none
Etymology (merriam-webster.com dictionary.com)-1865–70; < F, MF, n. deriv. ofenclaver < VL*inclāvāre to lockin,equiv.to Lin- in-2 + clāv ( is ) key + -āre inf. suffix
Memory aid- ENclave, EN sounds like in, like your in something or an enclosed district
Sentence- Me and my friends went to go chill in the new enclave the freshman made for us.
Pictures
Greg Plachta
Rapacity (n.)
Definition: Inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one’s desires by force extortion or plunder.
Synonym: avarice, cupidity, voraciousness
Antonyms: liberality generosity, altruism
Entomology: [From Latin rapx, rapc-, from rapere, to seize; see rep- in Indo-European roots.]
Memory Aid- the word contains the word city and a lot of greedy businessmen live in the city. Sentence: The thieves robbed the house with a great deal of rapacity.Ioana Blidaru
Word: Persiflage Definition: Lighthearted joking, talk, or writing Synonyms: banter, jesting, repartee, badinage Antonyms: none Etymology: 1750–60; < F, deriv. of persiflerto banter, equiv. to per-per- + sifflerto whistle, hiss < LL sifilāre,for L sībilāre;see sibilant, -age Memory aid: The end of the word kind of looks like flag, so think of history class and political cartoons. Sentence: Many writers incorporate persiflage in their work here and there to lighten the mood.
Leah Schultz
Cozen (v.) To trick; to cheat or swindle Syn: dupe, deceive, beguile, inveigle 1561,perhaps from Fr.cousiner "cheaton pretext of being acousin;" Aid: Steal from cousin Sentence: It is very simple to cozen someone younger than you. -Zack Hutton
Word: Quizzical
Definition: puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal
Synonyms: peculiar, perplexed, mystified, derisive
Antonyms: unequivocal, crystal-clear, unambiguous
Etymology: 1789, from quiz "odd or eccentric person" (1782), of unknown origin
Memory aid: You can become quizzical over a QUIZ!
Sentence: I read this question with a quizzical look.
Pictures:
~ Haley JacobBowdlerizeto remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film,etc.)syn-censor, purge, expurgateant-noneThomas Bowdler †1825 English editorFirst Known Use: 1836memory aid^^^^sentence- Greg's play, being full of swear words, needss to be bowdlerized.
Ancillary(adj.) subordinate or supplementary
Synonyms: auxillary, subsidiary, accessory
Antonyms: cenntral, key, primary, principal, main
Etymology: 1660–70; < L ancill( a) ( see ancilla) + -ary; cf. L ancillāris having the status of a female slave, with-āris-ar1 Memory aid: ancillary sounds like aucillary
Sentence: We needed an ancillary form for college to show we were different than other applicants.
Jacqueline Pyros
Definition
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology (merriam-webster.com dictionary.com)
Memory aid
Sentence
Pictures
Your name
Gratis (adj.)(adv.)
Definition: free; without charge
Synonyms: on the house; freely
Antonyms: for a price
Etymology:
< L grātīs freely, contr. of grātiīs with favors,graces (abl. pl. of grātia grace)
Memory aid: A free box of puppies on the grass
Sentence: It is ironic that once a person makes loads of money or becomes a celebrity, they receive many things gratis.
Thomas Moran
Plethora
Definition: (n) overfullness; superabundance; superfluity
Synonyms: surplus, surfeit, glut, excess
Antonyms: shortage, paucity, dearth, scarcity
Etylmology:
1540s, a medical word for "excess of body fluid," from L.L.plethora, from Gk. plethore "fullness," from plethein "be full" (see **//poly-//**). Figurative meaning "too much, overfullness in any respect" is first recorded 1700. Related:Plethoric
Memory Aid: a large population of a species
Sentence: The little boy hoped to get a plethora of gifts for christmas.
Pictures:
Megan Kane
Icon
Definition: A representation or image of a sacred , often considered sacred itself; an image or picture; a symbol; a graphic symbol on a computer monitor display; an object of blind devotion
Synonyms: emblem, idol
Antonyms: none
Etymology: 1565–75; < L < Gk eikṓn likeness, image, figure
Memory Aid: icon’s can be found on your computer desktop
Sentence: Every time I get on instant messenger, I feel the urge to change my icon.
Pictures:
-Nikita Lewis
Word: Forte
Definition: a person's strong point; what a person does best
Synonyms: gift, aptitude, specialty
Antonyms: weakness, shortcoming, foible
Etymology: French fort, from fort, adjective, strong
Memory Aid: A fort is strong, forte is a person's strong point
Sentence: Pablo Picasso is well known for painting being his forte.
Pictures:
Emma Kurfis
Definition: having the power to heal or cure; beneficial
Synonyms: curative, salutary, salubrious
Antonyms: harmful, injurious, deleterious
Etymology (merriam-webster.com dictionary.com): 1535–45; < NL therapeuticus < Gk therapeutikós, equiv. to therapeú ( ein ) to attend, treat medically (akin to therápōn attendant) + -tikos -tic
Memory aid: “therapy” is almost in the word.
Sentence: After the woman left therapeutic spa, she felt very relaxed.
Pictures:
Melissa Belanger
Word: Macrocosm
Definition: The universe considered as a whole; the entire complex structure of something
Synonyms: cosmos, entirety
Antonyms: model, miniature, microcosm
Etymology: French macrocosme, from Medieval Latin macrocosmos, from Latin macr- + Greek kosmos order, universe
Memory aid: Macrocosm has cosmos at the end.
Sentence: Earth is one small part of an enormous macrocosm.
Pictures:
Raymond To
Condescend
Definition: to come down or stoop voluntarily to a lower level; to deal with people in a patronizing manner
Synonyms: deign
Antonyms: none
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French condescendre, from Late Latin condescendere, from Latin com- + descendere to descend
First Known Use: 14th century
Memory aid: descend is in the the word and descend means to go down
Sentence: During class, Jon condenscended to the other students in order to help them answer a math problem.
Pictures
David MorsePaeanDefinition: any song of joy or praiseSynonym: acclamation, anthem, hymn, laudAntonym: condemnation, criticismEtymology: 1535–45: religious or festive hymn, special use of Paean appellation of Apollo, greek originsMemory aid: sounds like pagan someone who worships many godsSentance: The band was playing a song of a paean nature when the team won the game.
Word- Enclave
Definition- An enclosed district, region, or area inhabited by a particular region, or area inhabited by a particular group of people or having a special character
Synonyms- Island, subgroup
Antonyms- none
Etymology (merriam-webster.com dictionary.com)-1865–70; < F, MF, n. deriv. of enclaver < VL *inclāvāre to lockin, equiv. to L in- in-2 + clāv ( is ) key + -āre inf. suffix
Memory aid- ENclave, EN sounds like in, like your in something or an enclosed district
Sentence- Me and my friends went to go chill in the new enclave the freshman made for us.
Pictures
Greg Plachta
Rapacity (n.)
Definition: Inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one’s desires by force extortion or plunder.
Synonym: avarice, cupidity, voraciousness
Antonyms: liberality generosity, altruism
Entomology: [From Latin rap x, rap c-, from rapere, to seize; see rep- in Indo-European roots.]
Memory Aid- the word contains the word city and a lot of greedy businessmen live in the city.
Sentence: The thieves robbed the house with a great deal of rapacity.
Word: Persiflage
Definition: Lighthearted joking, talk, or writing
Synonyms: banter, jesting, repartee, badinage
Antonyms: none
Etymology: 1750–60; < F, deriv. of persifler to banter, equiv. to per- per- + siffler to whistle, hiss < LL sifilāre, for L sībilāre; see sibilant, -age
Memory aid: The end of the word kind of looks like flag, so think of history class and political cartoons.
Sentence: Many writers incorporate persiflage in their work here and there to lighten the mood.
Leah Schultz
Cozen (v.)
To trick; to cheat or swindle
Syn: dupe, deceive, beguile, inveigle
1561, perhaps from Fr. cousiner "cheat on pretext of being a cousin;"
Aid: Steal from cousin
Sentence: It is very simple to cozen someone younger than you.
-Zack Hutton
Word: Quizzical
Definition: puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal
Synonyms: peculiar, perplexed, mystified, derisive
Antonyms: unequivocal, crystal-clear, unambiguous
Etymology: 1789, from quiz "odd or eccentric person" (1782), of unknown origin
Memory aid: You can become quizzical over a QUIZ!
Sentence: I read this question with a quizzical look.
Pictures:
~ Haley Jacob Bowdlerizeto remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film,etc.)syn-censor, purge, expurgateant-noneThomas Bowdler †1825 English editorFirst Known Use: 1836memory aid^^^^sentence- Greg's play, being full of swear words, needss to be bowdlerized.
Ancillary(adj.) subordinate or supplementary
Synonyms: auxillary, subsidiary, accessory
Antonyms: cenntral, key, primary, principal, main
Etymology: 1660–70; < L ancill ( a ) ( see ancilla) + -ary; cf. L ancillāris having the status of a female slave, with -āris -ar1 Memory aid: ancillary sounds like aucillary
Sentence: We needed an ancillary form for college to show we were different than other applicants.
Jacqueline Pyros